Lesson 11 for June 13, 2009

Christian stewardship is
the joyful and free
decision of God’s children
and His Church to
administer life and
resources according to
God’s will.
“God has lent men talents—an intellect to originate, a Heart to be the
place of His throne, affection to flow out in blessings to others, a
conscience to convict of sin. Each one has received something from the
Master, and each one is to do his part in supplying the needs of God’s
work…

Property is a talent… we are to trade on our pence and our pounds,

returning our freewill offerings to Him to sustain His work, to bring
souls to Christ.
Speech is a talent… It is to be used to declare God’s wisdom and
wondrous love.
Strength is a talent… Our bodies belong to Him. He has paid the
price of redemption for the body as well as for the soul.
Influence is a talent… The practical benevolence, the self-denial and
self-sacrifice, which mark the life of a man, have an influence for
good upon those with whom he associates.”

Ellen G. White, Counsels on Stewardship, p. 114-115

In addition to the previous talents that EVERYONE has,
there are special talents that God gives to specific
persons to use them for His work:
Ease to preach.
Musical composition.
Identifying the needs of others.
Visiting and encouraging the sick.
Deaconship.
Explaining doctrine.
…

“But one and the same Spirit works all

these things, distributing to each one
individually as He wills.”
(1 Corinthians 12:11)
 “God has put men and women
in possession of precious gifts.
To different ones He has given different
gifts. Not all have the same strength of
character or the same depth of knowledge.
But each one is to use his gifts in the
Master’s service, however small this
gift may seem to be. The
faithful steward trades
wisely on the goods
entrusted to him.”

Ellen G. White, The Upward Look, December 31

Time is a gift from God that we must use wisely…

Time for communion with God.

Time to study the Bible.
Time for family.
Time to help others.
Time to relax.
Time to work.
…

“There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity
under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1, NIV
“Our time belongs to God. Every
moment is His, and we are under the
most solemn obligation to improve it
to His glory. Of no talent He has
given will He require a more strict
account than of our time. The value
of time is beyond computation.
Christ regarded every moment as
precious, and it is thus that we
should regard it. Life is too short to
be trifled away. We have but a few
days of probation in which to
prepare for eternity. We have no
time to waste, no time to devote to
selfish pleasure, no time for the
indulgence of sin. It is now that we
are to form characters for the
future, immortal life.”

Ellen G. White, The Faith I live for, June 1

“We are not our own. We have been purchased with a dear price, even
the sufferings and death of the Son of God. If we could understand this
and fully realize it, we would feel a great responsibility resting upon us to
keep ourselves in the very best condition of health, that we might render
to God perfect service.”
(Ellen G. White, Counsels on Health, p. 43
Rest.
Work.
Physical exercise.
Keeping our body
in good condition Food.
involves being Sleep.
balanced in:
Taking care of the “soul’s
avenues”
…
“The light God has given on health reform is for our salvation and the salvation of
the world. Men and women should be informed in regard to the human habitation,
fitted up by our Creator as His dwelling place and over which He desires us to be
faithful stewards. ‘For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will
dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My
people.’ 2 Corinthians 6:16”
Ellen G. White, Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 461)
“For all things come from You, and
of Your own we have given You.”
1 Chronicles 29:14

God owns everything we have.

We give Him back the tenth part.
We must administer the rest of the
possessions wisely; we are stewards.
The more we give to God
the more we are benefited.

“God loves a cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9:7
“Every good thing of earth was placed here by
the bountiful hand of God as an expression of
His love to man. The poor are His, and the
cause of religion is His. The gold and the
silver are the Lord’s; and He could rain them
from heaven if He chose.

But instead of this He has made man

His steward, entrusting him with means,
not to be hoarded, but to be used in
benefiting others. He thus makes man
the medium through which to distribute
His blessings on earth. God planned the system
of beneficence, in order that man might become
like his Creator, benevolent and unselfish in character,
and finally be a partaker with Christ of the eternal,
glorious reward.”
Ellen G. White, Counsels on Stewardship, p. 15
We are waiting for the Owner of everything to come back.
He will return soon and He’ll want to know what we’ve
done with our gifts, time, physical strength
and material resources.

May you hear the next

words from the Lord when
He returns:

“Well done, good and faithful servant; you

have been faithful over a few things, I will
make you ruler over many things. Enter into
the joy of your lord.” Matthew 25:23